Fish Serial killer

[GraviT]

OK, I am beginning to feel like a mass murderer of fish. All of my current fish are all happy and I have decided to add 1 more. Problem is, I am on fish number 4 now trying to fill that position. A little history:

Fu-Manchu Lionfish - lived 2 days then went belly up [color faded, blisters at base of dorsal spines] (Ph 8.2, nitrate < 10ppm, nitrite 0, Alk 3.2 meq/l Ca 480)

Foxface Rabbitfish - happy for 4 days than started looking like it was going to die. It's still alive at the LFS, but just lies on it's side unless it is disturbed. It will then swim around and return to lying on it's side. [lethargic, loss of equilibrium] (Ph 8.2, nitrate < 10ppm, nitrite 0, Alk 3.2 meq/l Ca 420)

Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish - Got this fella as soon as he got to the LFS so he never touched their water. Died less than 48 hours later [color faded, gills wide open when dead] (Ph 8.2, nitrate < 10ppm, nitrite 0, Alk 3.2 meq/l Ca 440)

Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish #2 - got this guy this morning. He is a bit bigger than the last dwarf and hopefully he will pull through. (water parameters same as above, reading taken this morning)

I wish I had a clue as to what the heck is going on. All of my other livestock is doing great with no signs of distress. Anybody ever gone through something like this? Myself as well as my LFS are completely stumped. I'm glad the LFS keeps working with me, but I'm starting to feel really guilty at the loss of animals. :'(

[pdlman]

Lionfish are not reef safe!?? Why are you trying to keep them with your critters/corals? Have you checked the amonia? Please never take a fish from the LFS that has never touched their water- you can buy it from them and let stay there 3-4 days, shipping is hell on a fish; and why not let the LFS eat the money instead of you. Most LFS will hold fish for a deposit to make sure it is ok. What test kits are you using? Nice looking tank by the way!

[GraviT]

First, thanks for the reply. There is a lot to say on this one, and please don't take any of it the wrong way!

Actually, lionfish are quite reef safe. What is in danger is fish and inverts (namely shrimp) that will easily fit in their mouth (they tend to leave things alone that don't fit). One good thing is that they don't nip, it's swallow it whole or leave it alone. (reference The Conscientious Marine Aquarist and Scott Michael's Marine Fishes guide). My cleaner shrimp is a bit too large to go in there right now, and the rest of my cleanup crew consists of snails, crabs and a really greedy serpent star.

I have checked the ammonia and it remains at 0, I just noticed I left that out of the post....sorry about that!

Taking the first lionfish directly after shipment was to avoid the stress of being acclimated multiple times. The foxface had lived in their tank for almost a month and I've had my eye on it for a while. It was really skiddish though, and always hid (probably wasn't a good sign to begin with).

To date, the only fish I've paid for in the whole ordeal was the Fu-Manchu. The others have been given as replacements, by bending their 100% guarantee policy (the guys at the LFS are cool that way).

The latest lion (after a bit of reading, they are zebra lions, not fuzzys) had been in their tank for a couple of days and shows a good appetite (promising). Distributors tend to fast the fish before shipping to avoid excess waste in transit water.

As for the test kits, my arsenal is composed of Salifert, SeaTest, FasTest, Red Sea and Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I've compared the results of these tests against ones done at 3 LFS in my area and they all are about right on target (except for the SeaTest Ca kit, more info in another post).

And thanks for the comment on the tank! I'm taking more pics this weekend and will get them posted asap. Lots of new growth and livestock to show off!
[smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

[Birdlady]

Lionfish can be reef-safe.....depends on what else you have. I have never heard of them eating ANY corals? Only other fish small enough for them to fit into their rather large mouths...

They are one of my favorite fishes!

[Birdlady]

Hey GraviT!
I posted that last one the same time you were posting! Said the same thing....

One question, do you know where the LFS gets their fish? If they are cyanide captured (almost all Phillipines are caught that way from what I have read).

If that is the case, there is nothing you can do that would save the fish....just food for thought.....

[GraviT]

Unfortunatley, not exactly. The shipments come from California, but I'm not sure where those people get them. I have thought about this one before and the LFS said they are told the livestock is caught without the use of cyanide. Hard to say for sure.

[pdlman]

I had one a couple of years ago that ate my shrimp, crabs, and use to nip at my leathers. I did not have it for long-I was told it was reef safe and peaceful from the LFS. Some online stores say they are not reef safe, or be very cautious, smoe say they are ok. I wont have another and I cant figure out why yours die though. Good luck
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...3ebd8d2722b4f5
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/573514.html

[GraviT]

True, there are mixed opinions out there. I have always admired lionfish and had to at least try.

This is a picture worth seeing.....



Not sure how long this relationship will last, but this happened several times today. The lion seems willing to allow the cleaner shrimp to do it's thing! Scares the crap out of me every time! Fingers crossed

[amcarrig]

The cleaner shrimp/fish relationship will last "forever" as long as the lionfish behaves itself

I'll help ya with that finger crossing Good luck with this one, I sure hope that it does well for you!

[GraviT]

Well, you can uncross those fingers. It's dead. :'(

No signs of distress, coloration is perfect, but it's just dead.

I give up.